Atiku’s Company, INTELS Allegedly Unleash Soldiers On Protesting Maritime Workers, Inflicts Injuries

By DAPO OLAWUNI

INTELS Nigeria Limited, an oil and gas logistics company partly owned by former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar allegedly unleashed armed security operatives on members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) who were protesting the sack of about 500 members by the company.

In a press release issued at the weekend by MWUN and signed by the Secretary General, Comrade Felix Akingboye, the Union accused INTELS Nigeria Limited and its sister company; Associate Maritime Services (AMS) Limited of unfair labour practices and assault on her members.

The union have now declared a total strike action at the Eastern ports due to the actions of INTELS.

“The height of the anti-Iabour practices by these two companies were the sack of over 500 of our members on December 4, 2020 in the midst of the Union’s negotiations with the companies over improved welfare and the conditions of service for workers our members”

“In the course of the negotiations that started about a week earlier, the Union requested for a break to enable the Union hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday, 4 December 2020. To our greatest shock, while the Union was holding its NEC, the two companies issued redundancy letters to over 500 of our members”

“We wrote to the two management to withdraw the redundancy letters for us to resume negotiations in a peaceful and harmonious enwronment They did not only refuse, but follow up the redundancy letters by Iocking out our members on Monday December 7, 2020”

“To further worsen the situation, they unleashed armed security operatives, including Soldiers and Policemen on the Union members and Inflicted various degrees of injuries on our members. Some of them are at present in hospitals receiving treatment” the statement reads

The union further said it has directed its members to commence strike from today Monday, December 14, 2020 pending when INTELS and AMS will withdraw the redundancy letters while calling on the Federal government to investigate the use of arms and security operatives at a peaceful gathering of workers.

The group urged the Federal Government to sanction those who brought the security operatives that brutalised and intimidated its members.
“As a law-abiding union, we cannot accept the illegal use of security operatives to deal with industrial relations issue where unarmed workers are brutalised, intimidated and harassed.

“Consequently, the Union has directed its members in the Eastern Ports to down tools from Monday, December 14, 2020, and begin an indefinite industrial action pending when the management of INTELS and AMS withdraw the redundancy letters to our members and guarantee resumption of negotiations.

“The Federal Government should investigate the presence of armed security operatives at a peaceful gathering of workers, sanction those who brought the security operatives that brutalised, intimidated and harassed our members and a guarantee from the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that security operatives will no longer be used to deal with or settle industrial related issues in the sector” he stated